Remembering the 2015 Wolverine Fire

The summer theme for 2025 is Life Anew, recognizing all the ways fire is part of a healthy ecosystem and prepares for the future forest. June 29 was the tenth anniversary of the lightning strike that started the 2015 Wolverine Fire six miles east of the Village. Over the next eight weeks the fire would consume 65,323 acres in the Entiat, Lake Chelan and Railroad Creek watersheds. By the end of July 2015, the Village itself was under threat, and the Forest Service ordered an evacuation.

Thanks to determined hotshot crews and the recent installation of Rain Bird agricultural-style sprinkler systems Holden Village was spared. The Village honors the hotshot crews to this day with three buses named after their three crews: Chelan, Entiat, and Silver City

Throughout the summer of 2025, with the Pomas Fire in the neighboring Entiat River drainage, Holden explores more deeply the new possibilities and growth rising from managed fire. The Village sees countless signs of growth and changes in the Valley and in Village life. We are all part of that Life Anew.

Silver City hotshots: Courtesy Kari Gree, Forest Service

In their own words

We sat down with former Holden Village directors Chuck Hoffman and Peg Carlson-Hoffman, Incident Commanders Nancy and Marc Rerucha Borges, and current Holden Village Fire Marshal Jeff Pierce to hear their memories of the 2015 Wolverine Fire.

Experience the story from the people who lived through it in part one of this three-part series.

Episode One Available now!

Holden Village podcast

Timeline

June 29, 2015 - Chuck Hoffman and Peg Carlson-Hoffman are installed as directors. Lightning strike ignites the Wolverine Fire.

Thursday, July 30, 2015 - Fire activity increases and threatens to cut off FS 8301 Holden's primary road. US Forest Service orders Holden to evacuate. A small crew will stay behind to keep an eye on the Village.

Friday, July 31, 2015 - Rio Tinto staff and Village guests evacuate and fill two boats to capacity. Rest of the Village packed and ready with plans to leave Saturday, August 1.

Saturday, August 1, 1015 - Fire burns to the south of Domke Lake. Second group of buses drive through semi-active fire scar escorted by USFS and Rio Tinto. A 14-person stay-behind crew evacuated by helicopter. Rain Bird sprinklers are activated to create a “dome of humidity.”

Monday, August 3, 2015 - Incident Management Team inserts Chief Firefighter Jeff Pierce and Branch Director Reggie Bray by helicopter.

Tuesday, August 4, 2015 - The fire has grown to nearly 25,000 acres. FS 8301 is impassable between Lucerne and the Village. The Holden business office is relocated from the B&B to Chelan Lutheran Church.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015 - Chuck, Mark, Nancy, Andrew “Zumba” Kingsrider brought back to the Village by helicopter. Staff and community members gather at Chelan Lutheran Church for Holden Evening Prayer.

Friday, August 7, 2015 - Aerial ignition plan initiated on ridge tops and mid-slope near the 7-mile marker on FS 8301.

Friday, August 14, 2015 - Holden evacuees depart the B&B and the Lake House because of new fires in the area.

Sunday, August 16, 2015 - Holden Village back burns are almost complete, designed to hold the fire as it burns its way around the Village.

Around August 20, 2015 - All fire crews leave the Valley.

Friday, August 28, 2015 - Chuck & Peg reunite at Holden Village. Peg brings three Holden staff to the Village to help finish projects and prepare for winter.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015 - With current fire danger now low, Jeff Pierce departs Holden Village. Seven people are now in residence at the Village.

Monday, September 7, 2015 - The Forest Service clears all Holden staff to return to the Village.

January 2016 - The first guests after the fire arrive in the Village for J-term.

Follow the story as it happened

Throughout the fire, Directors Chuck and Peg posted real-time on Holden's Facebook profile, which grew from 10k to over 30k followers as people sought updated news about the Village.

See these original posts with Photos Chuck and Peg's personal site. Scroll down to start with the first one in July.

Chuck and Peg's Wolverine Fire Blog

Read the official report from the Burned Area Emergency Management Team and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Wolverine BAER Fire Summary

Villagers Reflect on the Fire

Village of Imagination

By Carl Norquist

When the Wolverine fire bore down on Holden Village in 2015, I was working as a camp counselor at Christikon Lutheran Bible camp. I remember dramatic videos and photos of fire appearing on my social media feeds. I had been aware of Holden Village for as long as I can remember, but the summer of 2015 was the first time the community truly worked its way into my consciousness.